Why Tokyo’s “Station City” Should Be a Stop on Every Japan Trip

With all its themed cafes, one-of-a-kind museums, and scenic streets, it’s often difficult to decide where to spend a free day in Tokyo. Luckily, there’s one place that has it all!

Tokyo Station has evolved over the years from an ordinary train station into a “city” in its own right, complete with restaurants, shopping centers, and hotels.

Here are eight of the many activities you can do at Tokyo’s enormous “Station City”!

1. Try desserts you can only find in Tokyo

Tokyo Station City is famous for its wide roster of restaurants, bakeries, and cafes. Many confectionaries across Japan open booths or small shops within the station to cater to urban customers, while others only have branches in Tokyo.

Two good picks are the cream-filled Tokyo Banana cakes available at Tokyo Okashi Land and theYOKU MOKU’s Tokyo Honey Sugar cookies.

Photo courtesy of Timeout.com

For something a little more iconic, try Awaya Soubei’s Tokyo Station Monaka: crisp mochi wafers shaped like the Tokyo Station City building, filled with a delicious sweet bean paste.

Photo courtesy of Awaya so-bey Corporation

2. Buy iconic Japanese pasalubong to bring home

Tokyo Station City also has a selection of unique gifts for those relatives who want “something traditionally Japanese” as pasalubong.

Recipients of all ages will enjoy Mamegui: hand-dyed patterned towels wrapped around candies, rice crackers, or small snacks of your choice! Each mini towel features a uniquely Japanese print, so no two packages will be exactly alike.

8. Shop for cute character merchandise

Photo courtesy of Fast Japan

Tokyo Character Street on the basement floor of the Station City’s Yaesu side is one long street lined with character shops. It features popular Japanese mascots like Rikkakuma, organizations like Shonen Jump, and worldwide brands like Hello Kitty, Pokemon, and LEGO.

It’s fairly near Tokyo Ramen Street, so give it a visit after your ramen food trip!

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